Bending means



J. P. .STEIBEL.

BENDING MEANS Dec. 21, 1948.

Filed Jan. 12, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. W

AT TORNEY.

Dec. 21', 1948 J. P, STEIB'EL' 2,456,749

.BENDING MEANS Filed Jan. 12, 1945 'z'sneets-sneet 2 INVENTOR.

all, $49M A TTORNEK done by forcing the piece more or sharp-er the resulting suit the workpiece or the die.

Patented Dec. 21 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BENDING MEANS James P. Steibel, Racine, Wis. Application January 12, 1945, Serial No. 572,459

' 9 Claims. (01. iris-21) The present invention relates to bending apparatus of fixtures or so called press brakes and an object of the invention is to generally improve the construction and operation of devices of this class.

In fabricating thin metal parts, it is often necessary to form a relatively sharp bend or crease in the work piece and this is commonly less into a grooved die by means of a punch in the form of a blade-like member which enters the groove a predetermined amount and causes the desired amount of bending in the sheet metal. The sharpness of the bending is largely dependent upon the width of the groove and the bluntness of the blade-like punch, in general the narrower the groove and the sharper the punch, the

bend.

lhe desired sharpness of bend varies from part to part so that when such sheet metal parts are being fabricated, it is often necessary to change the die and the punch when changing from one work piece to another. Consequently, when relatively short runs of work pieces of different characters are to be made, an inordinate amount of time is used in changing the dies on the press.

" Accordingly, theprincipal object of the present invention is to provide for changing the size of the groove and the sharpness of the punch in the least possible time. A further object is to provide a die which can be readily adapted to the sharpness of bend required in the Work piece, I

A further object is to provide a punch in which the edge of the point can readily be changed to the size of the groove in Further objects are to provide expedients for the accomplishment of the above objects.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the inven tion is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention as herein expressed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an end view somewhat diagrammatic in character of a punch and die combination illustrating the invention.

Fig. 2 is a'front view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a view similar toFig. 1 showingcento the same parts throughout the drawings and generally designated as H,

specification.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the device comprises a punch generally designated as In and a die unit die ll providing a 4 and the like, pref- Punch It! comprises a plurality of grooves l2, I3, I erably of difierent sizes.

- blade-like element 15 carried on. a ram or the equivalent like I6 and retained thereon by. screws or the I1I1. Punch l0 may be caused to 1 descend as seen in Fig. 1 by suitable means acting on ram IS in well-known manner, member 15 in the position. of the parts shown entering groove I2 apredetermined amount as is wellknown.

Die member .H in the present instance is substantially cylindrical in form "and rests within a saddle portion i8 having a seatingsurface l9. Die H may be readily rotated as by means of. a handle 20 to align any desired one of grooves l2, l3, M or others with blade-like element 15,

handle 20 being removable while the press is in operation if it interferes with the placing of a work piece or if such removal is desirable for any other reason.

A plurality of sockets as 2| are provided for the reception of handle 20 in different positions.

It the position of the'parts shown in Fig. 3,

" member I5 has entered groove M which has been shifted to aligning position by means of handle 20 and a work piece 22 interposed between element l5 and groove 14 I If a bend of larger radius is required-as indicated in Fig. 4, groove l3, for example, is moved into position to register with element I5, the

piece 23. Accordingly,

wider groove in itself resulting in the desired larger radius. However, under many conditions, it is desirableto have blade-like element l5 also present an edge of'larger radius to the work in conjunction withz-the shifting of die il, a shim or sheath member 24 having a curved nose or edge portion 25-con.- forming substantially with the contour of the edge of blade-like member I5 is placedabout said edge portion toincrease the thickness and radius of element l5 to the desired extent. A

has been bent -:the slots in die H may uppe'rmost position.

The operation of the invention is thought-to-be rlear from the above description, itrbeing apparf ent that through the "eX-pedients *disclosed, .-the abendingfixture may bechanged with very-slight i'ffort from a set-up for producing relatively sharp :ben'ds to one for producing relatively portion 26 of sheath 24 extends upwardly a short distance on one side of element I5 and means 21 maintains sheath 24 in place. In the present instance, means 21 comprises an outturned flange 23 engaged by one or more hooks as 29 urged upwardly by spring 30 anchored to ram l6 by screws or the like 3|. Since the reaction from the bending Work piece 23 is always upwardly against the nose 25, hooks 29 and springs 39 need only to sustain'the weight of sheath- 24.

Obviously, die II can be shifted and sheath When set up for any one of these conditions, the machine is stable in its adjustment and may be used for a large number of work pieces without further attention. n the other hand, if the number of pieces of any one kind is limited, the machine is readily changed so as to Work on pieces having difierent characteristics.

Also, under certain conditions, different material for element l would be desirable for work 24 placed on element I5 in a comparatively short U 7 time and it becomes unnecessary to substitute a different complete die and punch to change'forexample from the operation shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4.

Additional sheaths as 32* and 33 :formed' so as to nest together may be applied to member l5 to in effect enlarge'the radius of the edgeofelement l5 to virtually any extent desired. This is iYShOWn-filr'Fig. :5. iUpturn'ed'portions M -and :35

ZaIE-LPI'OVidGd the lowermostof which-is engaged by aboveimentioned hooks m, springs 30 thereby iih'oldin'g the izplural-ity :of "sheaths in "place Without further complication.

EIn-Figr'5 the machine isshownbending a'work piece 36 in cooperation with slot l2 in die I l.

.f Itxis-desirable to avoid inadvertent shifting of ie all since :such displacement "might possibly cause punch l5 to contact one or another of the ilands-"i between the 'various slots. Also, slight .rishiiting of the die might possibly change the resultant bend .on one or more'work pieces beforeit :yvasnoticed. :Itsis therefore desirable to provide --'some imeans for lo'catingthe die with the desired asl'otmppermost and in a stablemanner. A.series sockets engaged by a locking pin would-be a aszitisfactory solution-10f this problemt'but it will 'ii'be noted'tha't :certaimslots such for example as 337ifrem0ve at large amount of material from die ll and :consequently leave comparatively little iroom'i-in :the ends vof' the die for locating "sockets. If it were attempted to place one locating socket "for each diefslot in die portion ll there-would nctlbevroom unlessithe sockets and accompanyingpin were made too small to be of practical benefit.

In the present instance, eight slots are formed -in zrthe ztperiph'ery of"die l1 while "four openings :or

v ockets 1 38, 39, dosand Ila-reformed in the endtof 5 ie l'l' to the left "as :seen ini Fig. 2. The .en'd 'of 5 saddle 'l Biis provided with am enclosing plate 42 f-i'maintained in place 'as byzscrews4-3-4-3 'and a pinv flis 'sli'dably' arrange d in plate 42 to be -:en-

gaged inanua'llly or otherwise With a selectedone of sockets 38 to 4| inclusive. This will lo'c'ate ldie' l'l with any of "four select-ed grooves "uppernn'ostfifiThe right "end -of -saddle 18 as *Seen in "iFi'g.:2 is provided with-"a similar plate =45 having fa pin 16 which may lee-engaged with one -or ran-other of.sockets -41,-43,'49and50 formed in the right end of die 11. The latter sockets, ihowever, are displaced 'circumferentially of die 'l l-"iso as to locate any of the intermediate grooves was [3 and 14 uppermost,

Thus by the use- -of :reither pin 34 or pin 46 as required, any 'one of be :definitely located :in

wound :zbends including intermediate conditions "pieces of different chaiacter. 'In ithis event, sheaths"24,' 3'2, 3'3, etc.,may'"-be formed-of material suitable for the work in hand and which material may difier substantially from that of element 45. flhus, if a particular degree of hardness, heat resistance, resistance to abrasion, or other specialquality is desirable in the punch portion of 'the-press, such quality may readily be provided by supplying a sheath of the proper "material. a

The above being a complete description of an -tillustrative embodiment 'of -the invention, what Axis: ciaimedas anew 5 and :desired to beiseoured eby flietterszBatentsof the- -Unitedz states .-is

1. .iA-isheet lben'ding :means :comprising .a base member having a seat therein at=least inpart :zciricuiar in transverse -'cross section, (a l substanirtial'lyccy indrical :die :memberwonforming to .said 'iseatiand rotatablyrsupportedrthereinr-in imbedded relation, isaid -die -:member having .aiplurality -of :ilcngitudinal 'acircumferentially-spaced tslots, a spunch :mem-b'er adapted --to-be brought .into ten- ;gagement said longitudinal circumferenrtiallyspacedx-slots sorras -to benda sheet of (mate- :rial placedcbetween saidadielandsaid punch, and means :to selectivel-ylposition-isaid .slotsiin work- :ing,p0sition melative .to saidspunch.

lat-sheet :bending :means comprising ,albase member having a seat -;therei-n at least in part rci-rcular in transverse cross section,'.a:substanwrel'ati-vely narrow .edge.:portion,.-.a sheath member formed to fit about saidedgeeportion to increase the --Wi'dth .-ther.e 0 'l, said sheath extending away I l :zfrromsaid edgeiportioniandihaving an outturned ,;portion for,- fasteningasaid sheathjlin .place, a hook member engaging said outturned portion rand:spring meansnarranged to exert aiyi'elding force on asaid hookZmember to maintain said :sheath in place. onsaid. punch.

- AUFA .r'punch or-use in a..press and Shaving a elatively narrow Ledge -.,poiition, .a ,plurality of interfittingsheath menibers, one of said sheath members "being formed to it about said i punch .member, said sheath-.membersserving 'to increase the' width of sztidedgeporition, and saidsh'eath members- :having .outturned porltio'nsffor "holding .said: sheathemen'ibersl' in ..place on said punch, a hook element engaged .w'iththe outmostof's'aid 117 outturned portions, and means lexerting-adorce :onvsaid-hookmember-so asitoiurgeit in a fdirec- -.ition :to-icontinuouslyrmaintaim said-sheath members in place on said-gpunch.

5. A bending die-.forzuseiintamress havingsa part whe're bands :of varying :degree' :are required.i lfi oylindricalseat,esaid die comprisinga rotatably supported substantially cylindrical element in imbedded relation in said seat and providing a plurality of longitudinal slots, rotation of said element providing for bringing any desired slot into working position, pin and socket means for retaining a desired slot in position, including a plurality of sockets at one end of said die corresponding to certain of said slots, a plurality of sockets at the other end of said element corresponding to the remainder of said slots and shiftable pin means at either end of said die positioned for engaging said sockets for retaining any of said slots in working position.

6. A sheet bending means comprising a part cylindrical seat, a die member in partially imbedded relation in said seat and having various work slots, said die member being rotatably supported in said seat for bringing any desired slot into working position, a punch member positioned to cooperate with said slots so as to bend a sheet of material supported on said die, means for retaining a desired slot in position including a plurality of sockets in said die and shift-able means supported in position for engaging said sockets for retaining any of said slots in working position.

7. A sheet bending means comprising a base member, a substantially cylindrical die member supported on said base in imbedded relation for rotation relatively thereto, said die member having circumferentially spaced slots arranged to be selectively placed in a desired position by rotation of said die member, and a punch member adapted to enter said slots a predetermined limited amount, said die member providing a plurality of sockets corresponding with said circumferentially spaced slots, and pin means shiftable relatively to said base members and engageable selectively with said sockets for maintaining said slots in said desired position.

8. A base member having a substantially part cylindrical open ended seat therein, a rotatable die member conforming to said seat, said die member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots so positioned as to be selectively brought into a desired location by rotation of said die member on said seat, said die member providing a plurality of sockets in one end thereof, a plate extending across the open end of said seat and forming a closure for said seat, and locking pin means slidable in said plate and engageable with said sockets for holding said die in position with said slots in a predetermined location.

9. A base member having a substantially partcylindrical open ended seat therein, a rotatable die member conforming to said seat, said die member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots so positioned as to be selectively brought into a desired location by rotation of said die member on said seat, said die member providing a plurality of sockets at one end of said die corresponding to certain of said slots, and a plurality of sockets at the other end of said die corresponding to the remainder of said slots, a plate extending across each of the open ends of said seat and forming closures for said seat, and a locking pin slidable in each plate and engageable with the sockets in the adjacent end of said die member for holding said die in position with any of said slots in a predetermined working position.

JAMES P. STEIBEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 88,624 Gatchell Apr. 6, 1869 2,312,755 Dehn Mar. 2, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3,708 Great Britain Feb. 15, 1910 251,181 Great Britain Apr. 29, 1926 

